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Meal price increase

Posted by Dr. Phil Burchfield at 6/22/2015

To keep its child nutrition program in the black, the Clinton Public School
District is increasing meal prices.

CPSD’s
child nutrition program is governed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Districts are required to charge students and adults an amount that covers the
cost of producing meals. This requirement stems from the Healthy Hunger-Free
Kids Act of 2010 for schools participating in the National School Breakfast and
Lunch programs.

“It
is something that we never like to do, but it is necessary to keep our program in
compliance,” said Regina Ducksworth, child nutrition director. “Our child
nutrition program is self-operating. The revenue we use to operate comes from
the funds we receive from paying students, adults, and federal reimbursements
for eligible meals.”

As
the cost of food, supplies and labor continues to rise, the cost increase has
become necessary for the 2015-16 school year.

Effective
this fall:

•
Student lunches – increasing from $2.50 to $2.65 per meal

•
Student breakfast – increasing from $1.75 to $1.90 per meal

•
Adult/teacher lunch – increasing from $3.25 to $3.40 per meal

•
Adult/teacher breakfast – increasing from $2 to $2.15 per meal

The
lunch cost includes an entrée, bread, servings of fruit and vegetables, and a
beverage.

“For
this price, students and teachers receive a complete and balanced meal,”
Ducksworth said. “It’s still a good price, and it’s a hot, healthy meal. Each
day, our students receive the necessary calories and nutrients needed for their
growth and development. Parents know their children are getting a good meal
each day.”

If
there is a financial hardship, parents may apply at any time for free or
reduced price meals. There are applications available at each school and also
on the child nutrition department Web site.

“If
your income drops, you may be eligible,” she said.

For a
free/reduced meal application or to make a meal payment online, visit www.clintonpublicschools.com and
mouse over School Meals. For more information, contact the child nutrition
department at (601) 924-4002.

Technology Update

Posted by Dr. Phil Burchfield at 6/19/2015

Technology is revolutionizing Clinton classrooms.

Through the 1:1 Digital Learning Initiative, every student
in every grade has a new computer for day-to-day use. Students in grades K-2
use iPad minis, students in grades 3-4 use full-size iPads and students in
grades 5-12 use MacBook Air laptops (and large padded backpacks in grades
6-12).

Teachers use new MacBook Pro laptops.

“We learned a lot the first year we went one-to-one with
technology, and we are pleased with the many ways that technology is being
integrated in day-to-day learning,” said Kim Griffin, technology director.
“Over the summer we are updating all the student devices and planning for the
2015-16 school year.”

During the 2014-15 school year, fifth-graders were issued
MacBook Air laptops instead of iPads; CPSD began teaching students how to type
beginning in second grade; and assignments were given and received online,
cutting down on paper costs.

Online learning
system

Grades 5-12 use a program called Canvas to help students
stay more organized and to cut down on paper assignments, Griffin said.

The Canvas learning management system allows teachers to
post assignments online, students to log in and complete the work online, and
submit the completed work to the teacher’s inbox.

“Canvas is similar to programs like Moodle and Blackboard
that colleges and universities use, so it’s also preparing Clinton students for
college,” she said.

Checking grades
online

Like in years past, parents will be able to check their
children’s grades online using PowerSchool. The grade portal is linked on www.clintonpublicschools.com
under the “Grades” link on the home page.

“Login information from last year hasn’t changed, and
parents who need to set up an account should contact their child’s school,”
Griffin said. “The online grade portal is open most of the time during the
school year, but closed during and after exam weeks while teachers enter and
update 9-weeks grades.”

Meet Your Mac

Students new to the district and students entering sixth
grade must attend a Meet Your Mac orientation session with a parent or guardian
before they will be issued a laptop they can take home.

Meet your Mac sessions will be held for all incoming
sixth-graders on Monday, Aug. 17 at Clinton High School. Meet Your Mac sessions
will be held for students new to the district on Wednesday, Aug. 19 at Clinton
High School.

Times for these sessions will be announced later in the
summer.

Registration
information

On registration day, students and parents should go to their
school, and students in grades 6-12 must bring their backpack and charger with
them to receive their computer. If they do not have a charger, they will need
to purchase one.

Combined fees for school materials and technology are $50.
Consent forms will be completed online through InfoSnap, as part of the online
registration process.

“Families that attended Meet Your Mac presentations last
year will not be required to attend the presentation again this year, but
students who are new to the district must attend a session with at least one
parent or guardian,” Griffin said.

Career Academies

Classes at Clinton High School are being tailored with
students’ college and career interests in mind.

Through the Career Academy model, CHS is taking a college
and career readiness approach to secondary education, said Principal Anthony
Goins.

“Our vision is to produce CHS graduates who are not only
college eligible but possess the knowledge, skills and experiences necessary to
be successful in their college and career choices,” he said.

Career Academies begin in ninth grade where Sumner Hill
students take a Freshman Seminar course. This half-credit class exposes
students to the 16 national career clusters, aspects of professionalism,
interest surveys, goal setting and more.

“Students receive a snapshot view of what is offered at the
academies,” said Sumner Hill Principal John Wallace. “We also have a number of
guest speakers who represent many of the fields of study and employment
represented in the academies. The speakers give students firsthand accounts of
their experiences and answer any preliminary questions they have.”

Students also learn how to correctly complete a resume and application,
how to prepare and give a presentation, how to interview and complete group
projects, plan a budget and other things.

“Students compile a work portfolio from various activities
during the course, which is presented the final week,” Wallace said. “Freshman
Seminar is an extremely well rounded course that offers students a glimpse of
what to expect in the next few years and early adulthood.”

Before entering 10th grade, students declare one
of three academy tracks offered at CHS — Academy of Health and Human Services;
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM); and the Academy of Arts and
Business. This fall, there will be two cohorts of academy students at CHS, the
sophomore and junior classes.

“Once students reach Clinton High School, their courses and
electives are tailored in a way to expose them to many aspects associated with
each academy and the various career paths,” Goins said.

Each pathway has programs of study to guide students on
their course selections, and classes incorporate the academy theme and provide
students with real-world learning opportunities and problem solving. Speakers
also visit classes, and students go on industry specific field trips.

“We are expanding the walls of CHS and creating a learning
environment that is focused on student interest and relevant learning
experiences,” Goins said.

Instrumental to the Career Academy model is the CHS Career
Complex. He said 423 students are enrolled in career and technical courses in
the 2015-16 school year.

“This proves that our students see the importance in getting
exposure to career-based classes and they can see how their academic classes
connect to their interest and the world of work,” said CHS Career Complex
Principal Brett Robinson.

Partnerships

The Career Academy model has allowed CHS to form meaningful
partnerships with local community and industry leaders, Goins said. Among them
are the Clinton Chamber of Commerce, Boeing Corp., Nissan, Neel-Schaffer
Engineering, Mississippi College, and Hinds Community College.

CHS is actively working with these and other partners to
create mentoring programs between experts in the field and CHS students. CHS is
also working to set up internships and job shadowing opportunities for seniors
in the 2016-17 school year.

“Through these partnerships we have been able to
receive some curriculum guidance, expert speakers, industry resources, site
visits, and even teacher externships,” Goins said. “In particular, the teacher
externships have provided some of our academic and career and technical
teachers the opportunity to visit businesses and meet with professionals to
talk about and see the ways teachers can bring real-world learning into their
classrooms.”

Coding

Eastside Elementary teachers are training this
summer to teach their fourth- and fifth-graders computer science and coding
this fall.

“This is the way children learn now,” said Eastside
Principal Cindy Hamil. “We are moving forward with technology to keep them
interested and engaged.”

Kimberly Lane, trainer with code.org, held a workshop on
June 10 for 25 teachers, covering critical thinking topics, teaching
strategies, games and activities, and planning strategies. Teachers got
hands-on experience with the curriculum and learned how it can be incorporated
into other instruction.

“We learned a lot of collaborative activities for students
to work on together to understand new concepts,” said Jesse Emling, who will
join Eastside’s faculty this fall to teach computer science.

Today’s job market is moving more and more toward
technology, he said, and teaching children how to code will prepare them for
the careers of tomorrow.

“By teaching this at a young age, they can carry it with
them and figure out what they like over a long period of time,” he said.
“That’s better than waiting until they are seniors in high school and learning it
in one year, and then having to decide on a college or career.”

Emling said the code.org curriculum is game-based, so it’s
tied to the things students are already interested in.

“This will appeal to them because it looks like the games
they play,” said teacher Schnita Gladney. “But they can put their own spin on
things. They will learn how to make the characters do what they want them to
do.”

In the future, she said, students can use the same skills to
build apps, design Web sites, and create other digital media.

“The new accountability standards are moving us in the
direction of deep thinking and critical thinking,” Hamil said. “Coding does
that. It engages students in a very hands-on lesson and makes them think at a
deeper level.”

Bus Safety

Posted by Dr. Phil Burchfield at 6/17/2015

School buses don’t just run in the mornings and afternoons.

“Our routes start running around 6 a.m. and continue until
about 8:15,” said Clinton Public School District Transportation Director Terry
Harris. “There are also shuttles during the day taking students to classes on
other campuses.”

With school starting in just a few weeks, the Clinton Public School
District is encouraging drivers to slow down and take extreme caution when
approaching and driving through school zones, and to drive with caution
throughout the school day.

“Also be aware of children playing or walking near bus
stops,” Harris said. “Slow down when you see the yellow flashing lights on a
school bus and be prepared to stop when they change to red. Never pass a bus
with its red light flashing. It is illegal to do this and it puts children in
danger.”

“We are transporting children on these buses,” said Dr. Phil
Burchfield, superintendent of schools. “If you are driving and see a school
bus, keep that in mind before you text and drive or if you’re thinking about
passing a stopped bus that has its lights flashing.”

In
inclement weather all motorists should slow down. The opening minutes of rain
or drizzle are the most dangerous.
“That’s when the water loosens all the accumulated dirt and oil,” Harris
said. “This immediately forms a mixture which quickly coats the road with
a dangerous slick film. High speeds on roadways where there is water present
can cause a vehicle to hydroplane out of control.”

Rules for students:

• Arrive at the bus
stop five minutes before the bus arrives.

• Wait until the bus
comes to a complete stop and the driver signals you to board.

• Take your seat as
soon as possible and remain seated, facing forward.

• Keep all your
belongings on your lap and out of the aisle.

• Follow the
driver’s instructions at all times.

• Talk quietly with
your neighbors and avoid making noises that would distract the driver or bother
others on the bus.

• To exit the bus,
wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before standing up.

• If you
must cross the street after you get off the bus, walk 10 giant steps ahead of
the bus, wait for the driver’s signal to cross and then look both ways before
you cross.

• Stay out of the danger zone (10 feet around all sides of the
bus).

• Never run back to the bus, stoop down or crawl near the bus, even if
you drop or forget something.

Northside Awards

Posted by Dr. Phil Burchfield at 6/3/2015

Congratulations to Northside students who earned Principal's Awards this year! These awards were created to recognize students who have consistently worked hard every day, all year long. From Principal Joy Tyner:

"This is not an award that means 'most improved' or an award that identifies students who started behind and caught up. This is an award to honor perseverance and a student's intrinsic desire to be their very best. This quality resulted in these students showing growth well beyond expectations. I have no doubt that these children will continue their strong work ethic and become our future leaders."

Teachers nominated students for the Principal's Award, and Mrs. Tyner research each nominee's growth in reading comprehension and reading fluency, their efforts toward earning AR points, and their progress on benchmark assessments and overall citizenship.

Engineering Courses at CHS

Students interested in engineering will have courses tailored just
for them this fall at Clinton High School.

CHS
Career Complex Principal Brett Robinson said there are already 50 students
enrolled.

“It
will begin with Introduction to Engineering Design in the first semester and
Principles of Engineering in the second semester,” he said.

The
school received a $45,000 grant from the Mississippi Department of Education to
implement the Project Lead the Way curriculum.

“Project
Lead the Way has a proven track record of introducing students to the field of
engineering and preparing them for the rigors of post-secondary study,” he
said.

Designed
for students, PLTW engineering is about applying engineering, science, math,
and technology to solve complex, open-ended problems in a real-world context.
Students investigate numerous topics, giving them an opportunity to learn about
various engineering disciplines before beginning college or careers.

The
courses are part of a larger project to implement career academies designed to
make high school more rigorous and relevant to students. The career academies
begin with a freshman seminar for ninth-graders at Sumner Hill Junior High.

Before
tenth grade, students can choose an academy track to enter, including the
Academy of Health and Human Services, the Academy of Arts and Business, and the
Academy of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math — or STEM.

Classes
offered in each track are modified to the characteristics of the academy. Even
core coursework — subjects like English, history and biology — are adjusted for
the specific academies to relate to students’ interests.

Reading test pass rate

Nearly all third-graders in Clinton’s public
schools have passed the third grade reading state test.

When initial results were released, 98 percent of CPSD’s
third graders passed the new state-mandated test. After the second testing
opportunity on May 20, the percentage increased to 99 percent.

Students who did not pass will have one more opportunity to
retest.

“Much of that is due to specific plans that we put in place
to increase reading comprehension skills,” said Northside Elementary School
Principal Joy Tyner.

Northside is CPSD’s second- and third-grade school, and for
years has placed a heavy emphasis on reading. During the 2014-15 school year,
Northside students read 168,374 books and passed Accelerated Reader tests on
those books.

“That averages to a little more than 200 books per student,”
Tyner said.

In the Accelerated Reader, or AR, system, students are
awarded points for each AR test they pass. The school recognized the following
students on Awards Day:

Teacher Incentive Package 2015

Posted by Dr. Phil Burchfield at 5/29/2015

For the seventh year, the Clinton Public School District is
partnering with area businesses in an effort to recruit and retain great
teachers.

Through the Teacher Incentive Package, businesses are asked
to offer across-the-board discounts or one-time offers for Clinton educators.
The coupons will be assembled into packets and distributed to teachers when
they return in August.

“This is an easy way for businesses to show their support
for public education and grow their customer base at the same time,” said Sandi
Beason, public information officer and TIP coordinator.

There is no fee to participate; the only expense to
businesses is the cost of printing coupons or fliers.

“Last year our teachers received coupons for free food from
restaurants, discounts on merchandise at retail stores and special rates on
things like gym memberships,” she said. “Teachers really appreciated the
support from local businesses. We got great feedback from our educators as well
as the contributing businesses.”

To participate, businesses need to submit 450 coupons or
fliers to go in the teacher incentive bags detailing the special offer or
discount. The deadline to submit coupons or fliers is Friday, July 31.

“We’ve had businesses send in things like notepads, pens and
product samples, small items that had logos on them,” she said. “We accept
those as well, but the minimum we ask is that businesses send printed coupons
or fliers.”

All participating businesses will receive a sign suitable
for framing stating that they support Clinton teachers.

Fliers and coupons may be dropped off at Central Office, 201 Easthaven Drive in Clinton. For more information, call 601-924-7533 or e-mail sbeason@clintonpublicschools.com.

Class of 2015

Posted by Dr. Phil Burchfield at 5/21/2015

Members of the class of 2015 are leaving Clinton High School
with more than $3.7 million in scholarships to colleges and universities across
the country.

There is one National Merit finalist and four National
Achievement scholars in this year’s graduating class. The STAR Student, Javarcia
Ivory, earned a 34 on the ACT and is one of only eight Mississippians ever to
earn a prestigious Ron Brown scholarship.

Our graduating seniors have earned honors in a wide array
of academic, athletic and arts competitions. It's amazing to me to look over this list and see
how well our students have represented us this year and throughout their high
school careers.

More than 312 seniors will graduate at 7:30 p.m. Friday at
A.E. Wood Coliseum on the Mississippi College campus. Valedictorian and
salutatorian will be announced during the ceremony.

More information about the CHS class of 2015:

• 115
seniors have accepted scholarships to 21 different colleges and universities
throughout the U.S.

• The
total scholarship money accepted by the Class of 2014 is $3,739,840.

• 68 students — 22 percent of the senior class — are members
of the National Honor Society.

• 60 students earned a President’s Award for Educational
Excellence for holding a 90 or above average for four years and a 24 or higher
ACT score.

• 49 students scored Advanced on all four Subject Area
Tests.

• 3 students scored in the top 20 percent at the state Math
& Science Competition hosted by Mississippi College.

Congratulations to all these students on a job well done, and Go Arrows!